Alternate action switch



June 1961 E. J. KUDALIS ALTERNATE ACTION SWITCH Filed Dec. 3, 1959 U w Sa arm Filed Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 856,973 6 Claims. (Cl. 200- 67) Thisinvention relates to alternate action electrical switches and has forits principal object the provision of a new and improved switch of thiskind.

-It is a main object of the invention to provide an alternate actionelectrical switch of small current carrying capacity, which is of simpleconstruction and is thoroughly reliable in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alternate action switchwhich is of compact design and isarranged to be mounted readily upon apanel or escutcheon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alternate action switchwhich can be manufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality. 6

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will beapparent from the detailed description and claims which follow,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferredembodiment of the invention is shown by way of example only and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the switch of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross secitonal view through the switch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the spring unit and a portion ofthe operating memberof the switch;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the spring unit and operating member atone stage of operation of the switch into circuit closing position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG.'4, showing the next stage in theoperation;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the switc in circuit closingposition;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the first stage of movementfrom circuit closing to circuit opening positiomand 4 7 FIG. 8 is a Viewsimilar to FIG. 7, showing the next stage of the circuit openingoperation.

Alternate action electrical switches, oftentimes called f push-pushswitches, usually are equipped with a push button that telescopes intothe switch casing to operate the switch mechanism into circuit closingposition on alternate operations and into circuit opening position onintervening operations, in so-called single throw switches. In doublethrow switches, alternate operations move the switch from one circuitclosing position to another, and the intervening operations reverse thisoperation.

The alternate action switch of the present invention is a single polesingle throw switch embodying this principle.

Prior art alternate action switches of which I am aware have usuallybeen provided with a pivoted cam member engaged by a flexible membercarried on the push button and rotated thereby, as the push button isdepressed, to move the spring assembly from one position to another.

The switch of the present invention simplifies prior art devices byeliminating the cams or their equivalent and by including the plungercarried resilient member in the circuit closed by the switch. As aresult the switch of the present invention is of simple design, can bemanufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality, and is adaptablefor use in low current capacity circuitry.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the drawingswherein it will be seen that the switch is housed in a metallic casing 1that is cylindrical in shape and has an open endin which a mountingplate or base 2 is fixed. Base 2 is composed of an insulating material.Casing 1 is equipped with a mounting collar 3 having external threads 4adapted to receive a nut 4 by which the casing may be mounted upon apanel or escutcheon. The collar 3 contains a cylindrical opening thatextends completely through it and is fixed onto the casing in knownmanner as indicated at 6. Adjacent its casing end the collar contains acounterbore that forms a shoulder 7, and an ear '5 projects radiallyinwardly at the other end of the collar.

Fixed upon the base 2 is a spring unit 10, best seen in FIG. 3. Thisunit has a base engaging portion 11 that is pierced to receive a rivet12 by which the unit and a terminal 13 are fixed upon the base.Projecting from the portion 11 are parallel leaves 14 and 15 whichextend upwardly from the base at an acute angle A, FIG. 2. Leaf 14 hasat its upper end an extension that terminates in a U-shape member havingan upper leg 16 and a lower leg 17 both of which are aligned with andoverhang the leaf 15. The leaf 14 is crimped at 14' to shorten it andthereby enable legs 16 and 17 to overhang the leaf 15. An insulatingmember 18 is fixed to the outer surfaces of legs 16 and 17 and also tothe outer surface of the closed end of the U member.

Also engaging the base 2 is a frusto conical spring 20 that is fixedthereon by a clamp 21 secured to the base and to a terminal 23 by arivet 22. The rivet and clamp extend an electrical connection betweenthe terminal 23 and spring 20.

Fitted in the opening in the collar is a plunger or push button 30 thathas a flangelike collar 31 at its lower end. Spring 20 abuts against thepush button and urges it outwardly of the collar, such movement beingarrested by engagement of the collar 31 with the shoulder 7. Button 30also contains a longitudinally extending groove 32 into which car 5projects to prevent rotation of the button in the collar.

Button 30 contains a counterbore 33 opening into its lower end and intoa smaller diameter counterbore 34. A coil spring 35 is press fitted intocounterbore 34 and extends downwardly therefrom, terminating in aresilient member having a vertical portion 36 and a horizontal portion37' which is aligned with the U member of the spring unit. A wire ormetallic band 38 is fixed to springs 20 and 35 in convenient manner,such as by soldering or brazing, to extend an electrical connectiontherebetween.

As the push button is depressed to move the switch into circuit closingposition, portion 37 of the resilient member moves into engagement withthe insulation 18 on the upper leg 16 of the U member, moving that legdownwardly into engagement with the leaf 15. Portion 36 is flexed to theleft, FIG. 4, during this movement. Engagement of the leg 16 with theleaf 15 may move the latter downwardly decreasing the angle A slightly,as shown at A Lateral flexing of portion 36 continues as downwardmovement of the plunger continues until portion 37 passes 0E of leg 16and into engagement with leaf 15, as shown in FIG. 5. This closes thecircuit through the switch. It will be noted that disengagement ofportion 37 with leg 16 permits the U member to move upwardly so thatlower leg 17 engages leaf 15.

When pressure is removed from the push button spring 20 moves itupwardly, moving the resilient member 3637 from the position shown inFIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 with 37 engaged with the closedend of the U'member. This engagement prevents the button from movinginto the position shown in FIG. 2, rather it is held partiallytelescoped into the collar 3 in which position it indicates that theswitch is in circuit closing position. The tension in spring 20 elevatesthe leaf 15 slightly increasing angle A, as indicated at A When it isdesired to open the circuit through the switch, plunger 30 is againdepressed. As will be seen in FIG. 7, member 37 is moved into engagementwith leg '17 and leg 16 is thereby moved into engagement with leaf 15.Member 36 is again flexed to the left until 37 moves to the end of leg17, at which time the U member snaps up and 37 moves into engagementwith insulation 18, as shown in FIG. 8. The circuit through the switchis thus broken. As spring 20 forces the push'button upwardly, member 3 6travels over the outer surface of the U member and is flexed to theright, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 8, until it clears the endof that member and then returns to the position in which it is shown inFIG. 2.

It will be noted that during operations of the switch into and out ofthe circuit closing position, member 37 rubs over the surfaces of leaf15 and also over the facing inside surfaces of legs 16 and 17 ofthe Umember. This rubbing action insures that these surfaces and the member37 will be maintained bright and capable of forming a good electricalconnection when the switch is in circuit closing position.

In the drawings and description, the casing is shown as cylindrical,this particular shape being by way of example only, as the shape of thecasing is not critical to the functioning of the switch and may bevaried within the teachings of the invention.

The switch of the present invention possesses many advantages. It is ofsimple compact constructionthat can be manufactured at low cost withoutsacrificing quality. It is positive inits action and capable of givinglong trouble free service when used for the purposes intended.

While I have chosen to illustrate my invention by showing and describinga preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only, asthere are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by oneskilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of it, what I consider new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An alternate action switch comprising: a spring member of U shapedisposed with its two legs located one above the other; means forextending an electrical connection to said spring member; a push button;a resilient member of L shape carried by said button and disposed aboveand in alignment with the upper leg of the spring member; means forextending an electrical connection to said resilient member; aninsulating member fixed to the outer surface of said spring member;alternate operations of said push-button moving said L-shaped memberinto engagement with the insulation and flexing the L member laterallyuntil it clears the end of the upper leg and snaps into the closed endof the U to.hold the button partially operated and to extend'theelectrical circuit through the switch; intervening .operations of thepush button moving the L member into engagement with the lower leg ofthe spring and flexing the L member laterally until it clears the end ofthat leg and snaps into engagement with the insulation thereon to freethe push 'button and to open the circuit through the switch.

2. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 1, in which the Lmember wipes along the underside of the upper leg of the -*U spring asthe switch is operated to circuit closing position and wipes along theupper surface of the'lower leg of the spring as the switch is operatedto circuit opening position, which wiping action clears the interengagedsurfaces to enable the formation of a good electrical connectiontherebetween.

3. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 1, in which there isa leaf spring projecting into the open end of the U spring, which leafspring is engaged by the upper 'leg of the U spring when that leg isengaged by the L member to limit movement of that leg and is engaged bythe lower leg of the U when that leg is engaged by the L member to limitmovement of that leg.

4. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 3,

in which the switch includes an insulation base and in which the Uspring andleaf springs are integral portions of a spring unit that isfixed upon that base. 5. An alternate action switch as specified inclaim 4, in which a coil spring engages the base and push button -tourge the L member away from the U spring and in which the means forextending an electrical connection to the L member includes the coilspring.

6. An alternate action switch as specified in claim 5, in whichthe baseis fixed in a casing out of which the push'button projects, said buttonincluding a collar which engages the casing to limit outward movement ofthe push button and in which the push button contains a groove and thecasing contains a tongue projecting into that groove to prevent rotationof the button with respect to the casing thereby to maintain the Lmember aligned withthe .U spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

